This large wall map, printed on four sheets, was published by Aaron Arrowsmith, one of the most respected British map makers during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He had a reputation for collecting the latest and most accurate information which he used to compile incredibly detailed maps.

On this map, he not only showed the coastal outlines and political administration of the West Indian islands and adjoining mainland territories, but he also listed variant place names for many of the major features, included place names for many smaller features such as banks or cays, displayed depth soundings in coastal areas as an aid to navigation, and portrayed the mountainous island interiors and mountain ranges of Mexico and Central America with a pictorial shading, suggesting a very rugged terrain. He also provided informative notes, often indicating the location of historical events such as Columbus' first landfall, or sources of information for particular geographic features. As with his other cartographic publications, Arrowsmith provided the most up-to-date information about one of the most contentious parts of the world at the beginning of the 19th century.

Cataloging, conservation, and digitization funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.